“Chicago.”

“Is that where your family is from?Are they still there?”

“No.”

“Oh.”

“I was an orphan.I grew up in the foster system.There’s nothing left for me in Chicago.”

“I’m sorry, Koa.”

I shrug.“I turned out all right.”

“Yeah,” she says softly.

She digs into her muffin, and we eat in silence for a minute before she asks, “Did you always want to be a Navy SEAL?”

“Yeah.I saw an ad on TV when I was seven, and I was set on it from then on.”

“And is it everything you thought it would be?”

“Pretty much.I can’t imagine doing anything else.I’m good at it.I’ve found a family with my team members.”

“I’m happy for you.”

“What about you?What’s your dream career?”

“Honestly?”She leans across the table.

“Yes.”

“I don’t really care about a job.I want to be a mom,” she whispers.

“Oh, fuck,” I curse under my breath.

My cock presses against the zipper of my jeans, and it’s not going down anytime soon.Not with the image of Lula pregnant with my kid flashing in my head.

Lula pregnant, naked, beneath me…

She frowns.“What?”

I clear my throat.“I think you’d make a great mom.”

She beams.“Thanks.But first, I need to find a man.”

Jesus, I need to talk to Ledger.Soon.I need to tell him how I feel about his sister because I’m not about to let another man knock up my girl.

FIVE

Lula

What a long day.

I’ve been all over town looking for any places that are hiring.Koa has trailed after me from store to store, my trusty shadow.It’s been good having his company, but I feel bad that he’s spending his vacation like this.

The bell above the hardware store door jingles as I step inside, and I offer the older man behind the counter my most hopeful smile.

“Hi!I was wondering if you're hiring?”